SMITH & CROSS Jamaican Rum - Is it REALLY the Best Rum for Tiki Cocktails?

[@StevetheBarmanRumReviews]

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[@paulmeahan3667]

Just a comment for the algo. Thought you’d be interested that one of the reasons I always stock S&C in Ontario Canada is that it’s not very expensive. $48 CAD (or a little over £28) for 750 mL. I think that makes for a different conversation about the value of keeping it around.

[@CinHotlanta]

I'm surprised the Smith & Cross is that expensive in the UK; my understanding was always that it was made there so it would be its cheapest there; over here I usually get it for around $35

[@StevetheBarmanRumReviews]

I think it's actually bottled and blended in the Netherlands. But in any case, it is our Tax/Duty. It's really high, but then while we think our Cost of Living is quite high, actually compared to other countries, it can be quite cheap to live here. So swings and roundabouts.

[@ddmplynx]

This surprised me today too. Picked up for $31 US today.

[@kawonewilliams1949]

This channel is a rum nerds wet dream. Awesome stuff. I'll be picking up a bottle of that Hampden to work into some cocktails. Thanks for the work, good sir. Cheers 🍹

[@JB-bp3nz]

Oh man, I have both bottles in my stash! I love em both but Smith and Cross has that cooked banana note that I love so much!

[@NickVolk]

Stevo, I just thought to myself that it's been quite a while and all of a sudden here you are! "Speak of the Devil"🤣🤣🤣👌

[@PamD1]

Used to get chocolate covered pineapples on stick at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Sounds like that rum!

[@miso56]

smith&cross is 23-30 euro in eu (outside ireland) -> similar price to other overproof rums from jamaica, as it should be. hampden 8 usually for 60+ euro.

[@mbalash3755]

Smith & Cross really punches through in tiki cocktails, I think that’s why it’s so popular. When blended with fruit and syrups it’s does Not get lost. Love it! I think it actually compares with Pussers rum. One ounce Smith, one ounce Mt. Gay, 1/2 ounce lime, 1/2 pineapple, 1/2 Demerara syrup, teaspoon of Luxardo cherry syrup, crushed ice, shake, garnish with a couple Luxardo cherries, best Sharks Tooth ever!😊

[@anoopsinghrawat5015]

I'm from India I recommend u u explore Indian maded rums

[@MrHavy09]

Will need to check out Hampden 8 and Plantation Xaymaca! In my market Smith & Cross is £28 / $35

[@jacksondalton6229]

Smith and Cross at my local store I can get at $30 here in Milwaukee

[@thomasredl1279]

Smith & Cross is about 25€ here in Austria. The CDI Jamaica Navy Strength i can get for about 42€.

[@henryl.4999]

Prices at my local liquor store in Germany: 41,50€ for the CDI, 29,95€ for S&C

[@alho9231]

Here in Belgium: Smith & Cross EUR 29 and Compagnie des Indes Jamaica Navy strength EUR 53. Indes is nearly 2x the price... A no brainer really

[@rares_21]

Do you think that S&C can be a sipper, for someone who is a whisky drinker, and doesn't drink cocktails?

[@mahmoudali1848]

Yes! I am a scotch drinker and I do not like sweet, sugared rums. Needless to say I do not drink cocktails (gin and tonic excuded).

[@StevetheBarmanRumReviews]

Yeah, this deffo ain't a Sweet Rum. Not by a long shot! I don't think it's refined enough to be a Neat Sipper. It needs more finesse for that. But it's decent.

[@rares_21]

@@StevetheBarmanRumReviews ,maybe a splash of water would help.

[@chazatrueblue]

LOVE Smith & Cross….makes a great mai tai. I got a lot of banana off of S&C mai tai Like seriously thought It could have been a banana rum. Fantastic stuff

[@StevetheBarmanRumReviews]

Have you tried any other Jamaican Rums... not Appleton...? I think you'd be surprised at how tame it actually is.

[@chazatrueblue]

@@StevetheBarmanRumReviews yeah Iv got navy island, appleton sig 8 12, Wray & nephew and “aged”, Xyamaca, myers and Smith & cross. So as a range it isn’t the widest but navy island, Smith & cross and my “aged” Wray & nephew are my favourites for a one rum mai tai I want hampden 8 but it’s a large lay right now My next one is worthy park 109

[@DfJ1010]

I’m late to this party but might you compare the winner of this Mai tai contest to a Denizen merchant reserve Mai tai? Much thx.

[@StevetheBarmanRumReviews]

This was created as THE ULTIMATE MAI TAI Rum - But does it Deliver? kzbin.info/www/bejne/aanFg2qQZaiinrM

[@viktortheslickster5824]

Have you ever tried the Hampden HLCF classic overproof? It's 60% ABV and £83 on MOM!

[@StevetheBarmanRumReviews]

Yes, I have at RumFests. I LOVE. I would use it in Cocktails. BUT.... it's a lot of money and perhaps 0.5% of my audience would buy into it as a Cocktail Rum. So it's pretty pointless investing in it for the channel. For the money, there's a lot more value for money out there, less then half the price for Cocktails.

[@viktortheslickster5824]

@@StevetheBarmanRumReviews Yes I completely get it. The Hampden stuff is really getting into a niche market. Smith and Cross looks like good stuff but it's still a lot of money in the UK. I think I will be getting a bottle of Worthy Park 109 and Worthy Park Select following your blind tasting Mai Tai video! Both are reasonably priced even compared to the Plantation offerings

[@royalsovereign1805]

Smith & Cross, $30 here in GA, USA

[@toddbailey3552]

I was gifted a bottle of Smith and Cross and to be honest I wasn’t overly impressed by it. I’m so glad the Xaymaca is still the leader in this comparison it does make a great Mai Tai 😅.

[@StevetheBarmanRumReviews]

People used to go nuts for S&C, but I think that was in an era where there wasn't much competition. Now, there's tonnes. I mean S&C was on the scene long before Xaymaca was even an Idea. I think if Plantation upped the ABV of Xaymaca to say 46/47%...it'd very interesting. Could almost become the ultimate Tiki Rum!!!

[@pnwesty7174]

My go to. $37 at my local stores.

[@philgringo2438]

Hello Steve. this rum is priced at €50 on average. Only one online site offers it at €40 per liter!

[@jimklemens5018]

Smith and Cross is $40 at Total Wine in California.

[@Dudeist87]

30-35 euros for the Smith & Cross in Belgium

[@brianaw220]

Here I thought alcohol was expensive here in New York, USA, but those UK prices you're sharing are properly ludicrous! S&C: $31, Xaymaca: $28, Appleton 8: $32.

[@StevetheBarmanRumReviews]

TAX... plus its a flippin long way to ship heavy bottles of liquid!

[@brianaw220]

@@StevetheBarmanRumReviews Tax indeed. I seem to recall something important about that in the history of the US and England...

[@darrenodwyer8559]

Cheapest S&C I seen is €45 in Ireland. Hampden is €75. 😮

[@rares_21]

Just bought a bottle at 20£

[@darrenodwyer8559]

@@rares_21 wow thats only €23 🤯

[@darrenodwyer8559]

Where did you purchase it from?

[@rares_21]

@@darrenodwyer8559 ,from Romania.

[@numanuma20]

Smith and cross is ≈ $34-$35. That’s a lot less.

[@lrvogt1257]

I get it... but S&C is not for me. Too bitter for my tastes.

[@jimklemens5018]

Smith and Cross was made for mai tais.

[@lrvogt1257]

@@jimklemens5018 : I'm not saying it's bad rum. I just don't like it.

[@jimklemens5018]

@@lrvogt1257 Which cocktails have you tried it in?